Police uncover ₦7.7bn telecom fraud, arrest six suspects
The Nigeria Police Force says it has uncovered and dismantled a cyber-enabled fraud syndicate responsible for the illegal diversion of a telecommunications company’s airtime and data resources, resulting in losses estimated at over ₦7.7 billion.
The discovery was made by the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) following a petition from a Nigerian telecommunications company over suspicious and unauthorised activities within its billing and payment systems.
The police said investigations revealed that internal staff login credentials were compromised, allowing the suspects unlawful access to the company’s core infrastructure.
The force said coordinated enforcement operations were carried out in Kano and Katsina states in October 2025, with a follow-up arrest later made in the federal capital territory (FCT).
Six suspects — Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu and Masa’ud Sa’ad — were arrested during the operations.
According to the police, assets recovered from the suspects include two residential houses in Kano, two mini-plazas, GSM and laptop retail outlets containing more than 400 laptops, about 1,000 mobile phones and a Toyota RAV4 vehicle.
The force said substantial sums of money traced to the suspects’ bank accounts were also recovered.
The police added that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun commended officers of the NPF–NCCC for what he described as professionalism in handling the investigation.
“The Inspector-General of Police reiterates the unwavering resolve of the Nigeria police force, through the NPF–NCCC, to safeguard Nigeria’s digital and financial ecosystems, dismantle cybercriminal networks, and ensure that offenders are held accountable regardless of position or affiliation,” police spokesman, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin said in a statement.
